Taking photographs of photographs, advice needed please ?????

I've got a bunch of photos that I took in Europe with my old Pentax MG 35mm film camera.
I want to photograph them with my DSLR.
The prints are very glossy. I can minimise reflection..to a degree.. by manipulating the environment.

I was wondering how effective it would be to use a polarizing filter (I have one). I realise I'll have to open up a few stops to compensate for loss of light with the polarizer. And I'd have to use the tripod.

Has anyone tried photographing glossy photos using a polarizer ?

Any other tips you can give me ?

I don't have a decent scanner, so scanning is out of the question.

Thanking you in advance.

I have taken a photo of a glossy photo before, but if you have that many and they don't lay flat that might takes some work. You might have to double stick tape your photo so it will lay flat. If you do that or don't have to do that, the best way is to use natural lighting. I did mind on a sunny but not too sunny day - under a shady area. I had it taped flat on a board (use a removable double stick take - a little more expensive than the regular at an art store). Make sure that the sun is not directly to the photo to cut the glare, and making sure that even non directed light is not reflecting. Then you could do some trial and error shooting it.
Or if you don't mind spending for it, you can take it to a place that develope photos like Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Longs... and they will make a cd copy of your photos for you. Less if you can find coupons for it.

On glossy, the polarizer will help minimize the glare. On a tripod, you can go as slow as you need. Use the timer, remote or cable release to avoid shaking the camera when you make the exposure. Make sure to keep the camera lens perpendicular to the image. When I make copy negs, (or copy digis) I attach the photo to a piece of white foam board. My front porch is perfect light at certain times of day. I like to find open bright shade, or either a medium overcast day. This will take some time to get everything set up. No-frills flat bed scanners are pretty cheap now, and I'm sure it would be quicker and easier, and probably better quality in the end. But I understand if you need to accomplish this task with what you already have on hand. Good luck with it, they will turn our fine!

Good scanners are CHEAP. You should re-think.
Good film scanners are not cheap. It's a different story if you're copying transparencies.

You can get a darn good printer-scanner for AU$299. This is one better than I am using and loving.
http://www.epson.com.au/products/multifu...

A scanner alone would be AU$249.
http://www.epson.com.au/products/scanner...

What the heck, though! These same products are dirt cheap in the USA...

Printer (even newer version) - US$149.99: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consu...

Scanner - US$79.99: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consu...

What are the implications of me buying one and shipping it to you, which I'd gladly do...?

Otherwise, you and the answerers above are on the right track. Mostly, it's digital, so try, try, try, until you get a good result.

I prefer trying NO lighting for glossy items. As you say, control the environment to minimize reflections. Go outside on a cloudy day and build a little box around the pic you want to copy and snap a picture.

Gloria has copied a few that came out okay just by shooting at a slightly off angle to avoid reflections. Then I have to undistort it in Photoshop, but it is adequate for anything not critical.

You are on the right track.

Place two lights at 45 Degrees from the subject. Then raise the lights to about 30 degrees above subject.
Scrim the lights so they do flood the room with light.
It is best to drape a large black fabric behind the camera. In fact you should be in dark clothes. Try to eliminate any thing that can reflect light back onto the subject.
Use the polarizer and set it to max.
Try to ensure the photograph is as flat as possible so it will not catch highlights.

Lizzie,

your best bet for ending up with a copy of a photo in really good detail always follows the degeneration rule, much like a copier, any copy of a copy is always "not as good as the original" ( which doesnt for some reason apply to children as my kids are prettier than me)....what I do to copy photos is to either use a tungsten bulb (light source) or to go outside and place the photo at a 45 degree angle to the ground (for which I have built a special board) and then with my tripod, I mount the camera and get as close to the photo as the focal length will let me, only then do I use the zoom to enlarge the photo to the size of the view screen..you have to make sure that your camera is at the same angle as the photo or "flat to the focal plain"...then take the photo......this way you get the best possible shot you can. sometimes they end up fairly good, even surprisingly good but the better your light source, the better your copy......hope this helps.

Good answers so I will just suggest you might want to consider using an outside source for scanning. Here is a very high quality service at a very low price. I use them to scan my medium format film negatives, though there is a considerable time lag, but that really should not be an issue in your case.

http://www.scancafe.com/

steve

Lizzie,

There a two ways to shoot this problem of yours.

1. You can use natural light. If you have a window that faces the north use that one. Cover the window with a white cloth which will give you even white light and this should control your refections.

2. This is how I mostly do my copy work. Two light sources to the left and right of the subject being photographed at a 45% angle. This can be regular lights that you can direct towards the subject (this can also be two electronic flashes). You can color correct your WB in the camera to match your color temp. Take a pencil and hold it in the middle of where you will sit your photo and the shadows should fall equally on both sides. You should not get any reflection on your photos. Use a tripod and macro lens if you have one.

Hope this helps,
Kevin

always have the lens plane perpendicular to the surface of the photograph and use a light source at 45 degrees to the surface of the photograph to avoid any glare and preferably use a soft-box as your light source in a darkened room.

I have taken photos of both photographs and paintings (high gloss) and always used a polarizing filter with excellent results.